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This English town is hardly the most glamorous spot in the world, but its rugby union team delivers plenty of excitement and passion.

In a city known for footwear manufacturing, you could anticipate kicking to be the Northampton's primary strategy. Yet under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the team in the club's hues prefer to keep ball in hand.

Although playing for a distinctly UK location, they exhibit a flair synonymous with the greatest Gallic exponents of champagne rugby.

Since Dowson and fellow coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, the Saints have claimed victory in the English top flight and advanced far in the European competition – losing to a French side in last season’s final and eliminated by the Irish province in a last-four clash before that.

They sit atop the competition ladder after multiple successes and a single stalemate and travel to Ashton Gate on matchday as the sole undefeated team, aiming for a first win at their opponent's ground since 2021.

It would be natural to think Dowson, who played 262 elite games for various teams altogether, had long intended to be a trainer.

“When I played, I didn't really think about it,” he remarks. “Yet as you get older, you comprehend how much you appreciate the rugby, and what the real world looks like. I had a stint at a banking firm doing an internship. You travel to work a multiple instances, and it was difficult – you see what you possess and lack.”

Conversations with former mentors culminated in a job at Northampton. Move forward a decade and Dowson leads a team progressively packed with internationals: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles were selected for the national side versus the the Kiwis two weeks ago.

Henry Pollock also had a profound impact from the replacements in England’s flawless campaign while Fin Smith, eventually, will inherit the fly-half role.

Is the emergence of this exceptional cohort attributable to the Saints’ culture, or is it luck?

“It's a mix of each,” says Dowson. “I would acknowledge the former director of rugby, who gave them opportunities, and we had challenging moments. But the experience they had as a unit is definitely one of the factors they are so close-knit and so gifted.”

Dowson also cites Mallinder, a former boss at the club's home, as a key figure. “I was lucky to be mentored by really interesting personalities,” he notes. “Mallinder had a big impact on my career, my coaching, how I interact with individuals.”

The team demonstrate attractive football, which became obvious in the example of their new signing. The import was a member of the Clermont XV beaten in the European competition in last season when Tommy Freeman scored a hat-trick. He liked what he saw sufficiently to go against the flow of British stars heading across the Channel.

“A mate rang me and remarked: ‘There’s a Gallic number ten who’s seeking a team,’” Dowson explains. “My response was: ‘We lack the money for a French fly-half. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He’s looking for experience, for the possibility to challenge himself,’ my friend informed me. That intrigued us. We had a conversation with Belleau and his language skills was outstanding, he was eloquent, he had a witty personality.

“We questioned: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He answered to be guided, to be challenged, to be outside his comfort zone and outside the French league. I was saying: ‘Come on in, you’re a fantastic individual.’ And he proved to be. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson states the 20-year-old the flanker offers a unique energy. Has he coached a player similar? “Never,” Dowson responds. “All players are individual but he is unusual and remarkable in many ways. He’s fearless to be who he is.”

Pollock’s breathtaking score against the Irish side in the past campaign illustrated his freakish ability, but some of his animated on-field behavior have brought accusations of overconfidence.

“On occasion appears overconfident in his behavior, but he’s the opposite,” Dowson asserts. “Plus Pollock is not joking around constantly. In terms of strategy he has input – he’s not a clown. I feel sometimes it’s depicted that he’s only a character. But he’s bright and a positive influence to have around.”

Not many directors of rugby would admit to having a bromance with a assistant, but that is how Dowson frames his relationship with Sam Vesty.

“Sam and I have an interest around diverse subjects,” he explains. “We run a literary circle. He aims to discover all aspects, aims to learn all there is, wants to experience new experiences, and I feel like I’m the same.

“We converse on many subjects beyond the game: films, literature, concepts, art. When we played the Parisian club previously, Notre-Dame was being done up, so we had a quick look.”

A further match in France is looming: The Saints' reacquaintance with the domestic league will be short-lived because the European tournament takes over shortly. Pau, in the shadow of the Pyrenees, are up first on Sunday week before the South African team travel to the following weekend.

“I refuse to be presumptuous sufficiently to {